Windsor Castle

Today we decided to head to Windsor Castle.  I have been dying to go ever since we arrived and it looks absolutely amazing just driving by on the motorway.  I am determined to go somewhere very English every Saturday.  Today it is cold, rainy and windy.... a perfect day to spend indoors at the castle.  Also, Sunday is the "Will and Kate" one year anniversary and Monday is the Queens birthday - what better weekend to spend at Windsor!  I am secretly hoping to see someone famous :)

Windsor is wonderful.  The shops, the cafes, and the castle.  And the countryside is breathtaking - I can see why the royal family has resided here for 900 years.

We parked at the closest carpark we could find, River Street and headed up the hill to Windsor Castle.  I was shocked because I truly had no idea that the castle was so big.  I should have known, or realized, but it was still so shocking.  There is a HUGE castle wall and then inside the wall the actual castle  is like it's own village within the city of Windsor. It is picturesque.  I can hardly wait to return on a sunny day!!

From the official website of the British Monarchy www.royal.gov.uk

Windsor Castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world. A Royal home and fortress for over 900 years, the Castle remains a working palace today.

The Queen uses the Castle both as a private home, where she usually spends the weekend, and as a Royal residence at which she undertakes certain formal duties....Windsor Castle is also a busy visitor attraction. Many parts of the Castle are open to the public, including the precincts, the State Apartments, Queen Mary's famous dolls' house, St George's Chapel, and the Albert Memorial Chapel.

When The Queen is in official residence, Changing the Guard provides a colourful spectacle in the quadrangle.

Sudesh was in town so he came along on our visit.  Fun to spend time with him again.  

The Guards are marching since the Queen is here today.

Beautiful gardens.  It is so amazing here.

This is the part of the castle where the Queen lives.

Check out the guard!!  Just before taking this picture, ditzy mom (yes, that's me) was almost run over by the guards marching.  I didn't think I was in their way, I really thought they would go another direction.  Then they YELLED at me, yes me, "Make way for the Windsor Castle Guard!!"  Yes, they yelled it at me.  I was so very embarrassed and couldn't believe that I had almost made them miss a step, or else run me over.  A very exciting time for sure!

Life

I feel like I need to write everyday day about our new life here in Great Britain.  I also feel like I should have exciting things to say each and every day.  Last night, Colby came home and as we caught up on our lives, he asked me what I have been doing and if I am "ok".  As I answered him, I realized that it all sounded exactly like something I would have said no matter where I lived.

I awoke early to make breakfast, pack lunches and rush to get the kids off to school.  Then I went on a walk, cleaned a little, washed a load of clothes and ran to the grocery store.  Pretty soon it was time to pick up the kids, do a little homework, snuggle on the sofa with anyone needing a little TLC, make some dinner, and help with homework.  Sounds like any mom, any town, any where.

As we have oh so callously uprooted our children and dropped them in a new neighborhood, in new schools, in a new country; I can honestly say that the normal routine is nice.   It adds some familiarity and stability to the day as we settle in to our routine of life.  But I think by the end of the week, I will be all too happy to turn into a tourist for the day and explore with my family all the new and exciting places surrounding us.

p.s.  We are still waiting for our "stuff" to arrive from the States.  I am excited for my oh-so-amazingly-comfortable bed to arrive.  But I also must admit that I love not having all the "stuff".  Cleaning is easy and the laundry is  not piled up.  Maybe I should have given away or sold more things :)

Oxford

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Whenever we travel, I turn into a crazy tourist who wants to see as much as possible.  When we are in Australia, I make the kids carry around a journal and record everything they see and do.  Even though we have moved here, I still feel like it is such an amazing opportunity to learn about new places and people - history.

So today we ventured to Oxford.  We kept hearing what a fantastic, historic city it is and it did not disappoint.  Oxford is beautiful.

I can tell that I am not in the travelling mode yet because I was not quite prepared for today.  Usually Colby and I research and plan our touring path because neither of us likes the "guided tour" you can pay for to see and do things.  We both would rather "self-tour" around on our own.  Sometimes this is great, and some times it is not great.  Today began as one of the NOT great days.  I had downloaded an app to help us on our tour, but didn't realize that I had to pay to upgrade to the map version.  I didn't want to pay for a map that I could get just by stopping in at the Tourist Centre.  So when we stepped off the bus into Oxford, we started walking the wrong direction, away from the list of sites that I wanted to SEE.  I was feeling frustrated because I had a PLAN, and I didn't feel like Colby was following MY plan.  You would think that after 40 something years I would learn that things don't always go according to my plan...... So I proceeded to tell my sweet husband, in not so many words, that I was done being in charge if he didn't want to follow :)  I just wanted to see a few main attractions, check our the eating hall from Harry Potter, and then tour a museum; perhaps I didn't verbalize this to him.  Then to top it off, Arik, who didn't eat a good breakfast, ran out of steam and was having a melt-down; it was time for a break.  This is where Colby shines. He headed back to a spot we had seen earlier, stopped and had a FANTASTIC lunch on the Thames River, and rebooted our day.

The Alice's Shop in Oxford is the authentic Alice in Wonderland Shop because it is part of the original story. Situated across the road from Alice's childhood home, the Oxford University college of Christ Church, Alice's Shop was Alice's sweet shop 150 years ago. Lewis Carroll wrote the shop into the Alice adventures in Through the Looking-Glass and the illustrator, Sir John Tenniel, sketched two illustrations of the shop for the original book. An entire episode in the story takes place in the shop.

Oxford is the birth place of Alice in Wonderland and many inspirations for the stories came from Oxford. Alice's Shop is the most tangible link to an episode in the book still in existence today. 

Alice's Shop

Christ Church College, Oxford

Annika's favorite street

Radcliffe Camera

We finished the day wandering through the Ashmolean Museum.  

All in all an amazing and FUN day.

Since the Great Hall at Christ Church was closed when we first visited, we went back when it was open.

The Great Hall was replicated in the film studios to create Hogwart's Hall. Only one of our portraits moves, sadly, but many of the faces are the real "Wizards" who have changed the way we understand the world. As Harry and the new first-years enter Hogwarts they are greeted by Professor McGonagall. This scene was shot on the 16th century staircase which leads up to the Great Hall.

The kids standing at the top of the staircase, just like in the movie.

The Great Hall really is amazing.  Does it remind you of Harry Potter??
Also, there are so many Alice in Wonderland items in this room, such as the Firedogs below, just behind Annika & Arik.

These are the original Firedogs illustrated in the wonderful book!

Here is a stained glass window.  It is difficult to see due to the sun, but the story of Alice in Wonderland is incorporated into this window.  

1st day of School - King Alfred's Sports College

Friday,  April 20, 2012

Today was Tanner's first day of school.  Almost every secondary school has a uniform with trousers, a white shirt, tie and a blazer.  Tanner was THRILLED to learn that his uniform was a polo and sweater.  He was not sure he could wear "church clothes" every day to school as well as on Sunday to church.  This is a HUGE change from the Nike attire he was used to.  Check out our handsome boy!

Tanner is in the White Horse house.  There are 3 houses at KA - White Horse, Vale and Ridgeway 

1st day of School

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Today was the first day of school at Primary School for Annika and Arik.  Don't they look "smashing" in their school uniforms!

London Baby

Saturday, April 14, 2012

The weather looks good, so we are heading to London.  YIPEE!!  Since we live so close, and there is so much to see.  We are taking the train from Didcot to London for the day.  Our plan is to take a river tour on the THAMES CRUISE and then ride on the LONDON EYE.  www.londoneye.com

It was a little cold and gray outside when we left Didcot, but look what we saw as we came out of the tube...

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

Look at the bus!

Thames River

Globe Theatre

Tower of London

Annika on a Skype call with Claire while riding the London Eye!

We walked around Parliament and Westminster Abbey before headed across the bridge to the London Eye.  Here we took the Thames River Cruise, which was FABULOUS, had a little lunch, and then rode the London Eye.  You really CAN see EVERYTHING.  Such a fun day.